While climbing is awesome and all, helping people is even better. The Zack Martin Breaking Barriers Grant (ZMBB) is a dual-purpose grant fund that focuses primarily on a humanitarian objective. The secondary objective involves alpinism, ice climbing, rock climbing, bouldering.

Applicants need to meet both objectives and are strongly encouraged to obtain additional funding and sponsors.

Humanitarian efforts should be sustainable, feasible, and continue to provide benefits to local people after initial implementation. Ideally, objectives will teach locals "how to" and provide some level of continued support and funding. For examples, check out the humanitarian objectives of previous ZMBB recipients.

The secondary objective should focus on climbing related adventure and discovery in the natural environment.

Who's Zack Martin?

Zack Martin died just before his 25th birthday on Thanksgiving Day 2002. He was a recipient of AAC grants, the Anatoli Boukreev grant and others. Zack was concerned about the general arrogance and self-serving aspirations of climbers and explorers. He committed to performing humanitarian service in the local community on all of his climbing expeditions. He would "break a barrier" in the alpine environment and "break a barrier" in the heart of man. As Zack often said, "The only barrier holding you back is yourself."

Looking for Equipment?

In 2008, Industry Partner Black Diamond graciously agreed to be a supporter and sponsor of the Zack Martin Breaking Barriers Grant. Grant recipients will be offered equipment sponsorship specific to the goals and objectives of the expedition or trip.

In 2010, Petzl also became a sponsor of the Zack Martin Grant. Petzl will offer the grant recipients special assistance with products that are specific to the grant objectives.

Black Diamond and Petzl's assistance will allow the ZMBB recipients to defray the cost of outfitting their climbing and humanitarian objectives. For information regarding the BD and Petzl sponsorship, contact John Parsons.

Looking for a humanitarian project?If you don't have a project in mind, The Mountain Fund is a resource to help guide and mentor humanitarian projects from concept to implementation and can assist with identification of needed projects as well as in-country resources that may be available to assist with implementation and sustainability. Please contact Scott Maclennan at http://www.mountainvolunteer.org.contact